Worcestershire Seconds were bowled out for 142 on the opening day of their Second Eleven Championship match with Northamptonshire at Milton Keynes.
Tom Kohler-Cadmore and skipper Shaaiq Choudhry, who elected to bat after winning the toss, added 52 for the fourth wicket after three wickets had gone down for 21 runs.
There was also a partnership of 44 for the seventh wicket between Will Fraine and Michael Hill before the last four wickets went down for seven runs.
Tom Burton (5-40) and David Burton (3-29) were the most successful bowlers for the home side.
Chris Russell struck a couple of early blows for Worcestershire and, when George Munsey fell to Hill, Northants were 50-3.
But an unbroken stand of 107 between Ben Duckett and David Murphy put Northants in a strong position by the close at 157-3 from 36 overs.
Worcestershire 2nds first innings
Clarke c Munsey b D Burton 7
D'Oliveira c Duckett b D Burton 5
Rhodes b Chambers 5
Kohler-Cadmore lbw T Burton 27
Choudhry c Murphy b T Burton 25
Hepburn lbw D Burton 8
Fraine c T Burton b White 25
Hill c Young b T Burton 24
Tongue c Murphy b T Burton 7
Russell b T Burton 0
Whiles not out 0
Extras 9
Total (all out) 142 in 67.1 overs
FOW: 8, 21, 21, 73, 80, 91, 135, 135, 135, 142.
Bowling: Chambers 1-35, D Burton 3-29, T Burton 5-40, White 1-20
Northants 2nds first innings
Carter c Hill b Russell 15
Zaib lbw Russell 19
Duckett not out 64
Munsey c Rhodes b Hill 0
Murphy not out 46
Extras 13
Total (for 3 wickets) 157 in 36 overs
FOW: 34, 39, 50.
Bowling Russell 10-0-47-2
Tongue 7-1-20-0
Hill 6-1-21-1
Whiles 5-0-27-0
Choudhry 5-1-19-0
Rhodes 3-0-16-0
